2007-06-11 18:55:56 - County Clare, IRELAND, Mon 11th June 07 - Europe's first ever large-scale audit of farm machinery is being undertaken in County Clare, Ireland.

The Clare Farm Machinery Audit aims to document unprotected early agricultural machinery and to establish a strategy for their conservation and posterity of such items as seed drills, harrows, ploughs and rollers, horse carts, and harvesting and haymaking machinery.

The Clare Heritage Office recently secured funding from the Heritage Council and Clare County Council to conduct the project, as part

of the implementation of the Clare Heritage Plan for 2007.

Minogue Associates, an East Clare-based consultancy firm has been appointed to conduct the audit. During the project researchers will identify and compile an inventory of agricultural machinery in Clare and will allow for the future analysis of issues surrounding the future protection and role of farm machinery, for education, historical awareness, and museum and heritage centre accessibility.

"The West of Ireland is traditionally an agricultural Region and this tradition has bequeathed a significant amount of farm machinery dating from the late 19th and early to mid-twentieth centuries", stated Tomás Mac Conmara, Acting Heritage Officer with Clare County Council.

Commenting on the audit, Mr. Mac Conmara said, "There is a significant gap in awareness when it comes to our agricultural heritage despite its fundamental impact on the socio-economic development of this country over the last number of centuries. The Clare Heritage Office is hoping that this audit and its subsequent promotion will help address that gap in Clare and also provide an effective template that can be used on a national and international level."

Mr. Mac Conmara explained that although there had been many individual efforts across Europe to collect and preserve antiquated farm machinery, no large-scale audit had ever been undertaken.

He added, "This audit aims to uniquely inform as to the historical, geographical, economic and even scientific development of agricultural machinery in one county."

"I would encourage anyone to come forward who may have a piece of old farm machinery on their land, which can then be photographed and included in the audit. The response has been extremely positive so far, which reflects an awareness among particularly the rural population of Clare of the importance or farming and farm machinery in the county's history", concluded Mr. Mac Conmara.

According to Ruth Minogue of Minogue Associates, "We are delighted to have been appointed to this project and are looking forward to working with the Clare Heritage Office in this important initiative. The audit presents an exiting challenge to the consultancy particularly considering that it is unprecedented on a countywide basis. We are aiming to commence work on the project immediately and hope to receive positive feedback the general public that will assist us in our efforts."

Anyone interested should contact Minogue Associates at 0035386-6026043 or email farmmachinery@bbnet.ie

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- To arrange an interview or photograph opportunity please call Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 0035386-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)